sublime piece of melodic, deep, soul / jazz

nach dem überaus erfolgreichen start mit veröffentlichungen von konzerten aus dem legendären hamburger club onkel pÖ im frühjahr des jahres und dem überwältigenden presseecho setzt das label jazzline in zusammenarbeit mit dem norddeutschen rundfunk die reihe ab oktober 2017 fort. der amerikanische trompeter freddie hubbard gastierte mit seinem quintett im oktober 1979 im onkel pö. in der besetzung mit hadley caliman (dax), billy childs (keys), larry klein (bass) und carl burnett (dr) präsentiert sich der trompeter in bestechender form. als freddie hubbard nach hamburg kommt und auf die bühne klettert in „onkel pö’s carnegie hall“, steht er vermutlich so prominent wie selten zuvor oder danach mitten im zentrum der jazz-entwicklung – mit herbie hancock und wayne shorter, ron carter und tony williams hat der trompeter drei jahre zuvor das quintett „v.s.o.p.“ formiert, und da die vier anderen ehedem das legendäre zweite quintett um miles davis gebildet hatten, stand freddie hubbard jetzt quasi in dessen direkter nachfolge. ein jazzgeschichtliches zeitdokument!
jetzt erhältlich als doppel-vinyl (schwarz/180g/direct metal mastering)!

word of advice to funk lovers, there is not a minute to lose. get on board of the big hustle’s spaceship. before we take off, let s do a little history. the band was founded in 2014 by bass player and composer sébastien levanneur and its aim is to bring together 70 s old school funk with the hippest actual sound laced with influences spanning from steely dan and headhunters, to snarky puppy and soulive. with mighty horn players, a rock and funky rhythm section, the big hustle s music has a very large variety of soundscapes. the first destination takes us to the washington, d.c. area with “turn up”. the groove is clearly go-go music flavored with the trademark sound of cowbells and of course it reminds us of zapp by the use of the talk box on lead vocals, performed here by saad el garrab. and don t miss out shaun martin (snarky puppy, erykah badu, kirk franklin amongst others) as a very special guest performing the talk box solo! second stop is “a curse, a blessing”. it’s an instrumental very much in the freddie hubbard vein during his cti years. the last leg of the a side ends with an instrumental interlude titled “flying donut”. double tribute to jay dee and flying lotus, the music is a simple hip hop loop based on samples. the b side takes us back into the past with two brilliant covers, involving rod temperton the late great british songwriter who scored some of michael jackson s biggest hits. now the idea for this b side is to do the opposite approach from the a side. taking 70 s and 80 s original music and make them travel into time to 2018. we first land with a heatwave song named “the star of a story” from their 1976 central heating album. track 2 is a herbie hancock song named “gettin to the good part” from his 1982 lite me up lp. this time traveler ep journey ends with an interlude. called “gimme dat”, the song deals with the need of new music, new sound. again, this blend of deep rooted funk laced with a contemporary edge is to be consumed without moderation. and do not forget that e.p. also stands for extended pleasure.